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Greek Dictionary

Alumnae/Alumni

Initiated members who have graduated or who are no longer in college. Some organizations confer this status after an initiate has been a member for four or more years.Alumna/alumnae refers to women and alumnus/alumni refers to men.

Badge

The pin of an initiated member indicating membership in a fraternity or sorority.

Bid

A formal invitation to pledge or associate with a fraternity or a sorority.

Bid Matching

Procedure utilized during women's formal recruitment. At the conclusion, each participant ("potential new member") has the opportunity to submit a prioritized choice of sororities she would like to join. Each sorority also submits a prioritized list of women to whom they are interested in extending a bid. A computerized process is used to match the priorities of both. Every potential new member may not receive her first choice as there is a maximum on the number of bids allowed (see 'Quota').

Big Brother/Big Sister

An active member of a fraternity or sorority who serves as a mentor to a new member, guiding them through their new member program and initiation.

Brother

Term used when referring to another member of the fraternity.

Call

A yell used mostly by NPHC organizations (although some NIC, NPC and local organizations have calls as well). Used to identify and greet brothers and sisters.

Chapter

The local group of an (inter)national fraternal organization.

Charter

The document issued from a headquarters to a chapter that indicates the group is a full-fledged member of the national or international organization.

Chapter Total

The allowable chapter size for Panhellenic sororities, as determined by the Panhellenic Council.

Class or New Member Class

A term used to name new members of a Panhellenic Council or Interfraternity Council organization who all joined during the same semester.

Colony

A group of students seeking a charter from a headquarters to a chapter that indicates the group is a full-fledged member of thenational or international organization.

Crest

Insignia used by sorority and fraternity members. Most Greek organizations reserve the crest for initiated members only. Each crest has hidden, secret meanings behind it. Also known as a coat or arms or shield.

Crossing

Ceremony during which new members of the IGC and NPHC Greek organizations become active, life-long members of their organization.

Depledge

The process of terminating one’s membership after initiation.

Dues

The monetary costs of membership in a fraternity or sorority. These fees are used to cover the costs of operation, formal events, social activities, and other events, depending on the organization.

Formal Recruitment

The period set aside for structured recruiting. At Butler, this occurs in January, prior to the start of the second semester.

Founders Day

An event celebrated by fraternities and sororities to highlight the founding of their organization and celebrate its history. It's not necessarily held on the day the organization was founded.

Fraternity

A Greek letter organization. This can refer to either a men's or women's organization, and can refer to general/social organizations, professional organizations, or honoraries. Informally, the term refers to men's organizations.

Greek

Any member of a Greek-letter social or community service organization (fraternity or sorority).

Greek Alphabet

A: Alpha

B: Beta

C: Chi

D: Delta

E: Epsilon

F: Phi

G: Gamma

H: Eta

I: Iota

K: Kappa

L: Lambda

M: Mu

N: Nu

O: Omicron

P: Pi

Q: Theta

R: Rho

S: Sigma

T: Tau

U: Upsilon

W: Omega

X: Xi (zee)

Y: Psi

Z: Zeta

Hazing

“Any action taken or situation created, intentionally, whether on or off fraternity premise, to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment, or ridicule.”

Headquarters

The central international or national organization of a particular fraternity or sorority.

Initiation

The formal ceremony during which a man or a woman begins a full membership in a fraternity or sorority.

Intake

The membership recruitment and induction process for the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) member organizations (historically African-American fraternities and sororities).

(Inter)National

A term referring to the central organization of a given sorority or fraternity.

Interfraternity Council (IFC)

The central governing body of fraternities.

Legacy

A potential new member whose grandmother/grandfather, mother/father, sister/brother, stepmother/stepfather or stepsister/stepbrother was or is a member of a particular sorority or fraternity. A legacy can be given special consideration, but is never guaranteed membership.

Lavaliere

A pendant, generally a necklace, bearing the Greek Letters of one’s organization.

Letters

Used in the context of Greek Life, it usually refers to an article of clothing embroidered with the Greek letters of one’s Greek Organization, which are traditionally worn by the initiated membership.

Line

A National Pan-Hellenic Council term used to name new members who all joined during the same quarter (similar to the term to“class” which is often used by Panhellenic Council and Interfraternity Council organizations). They are the potential new members of the organization. Lines are often given names.

National Order of Omega

This is a National Honor Society for Fraternity or Sorority members who maintain a grade point average above the All-Greek average, have distinguished themselves as leaders in the MSU Greek community, have exemplary character, and are either juniors or seniors. These individuals are nominated and voted upon by the Greek community and then inducted by current members of the Order at the end of each year.

National Panhellenic Conference

The central governing body of sororities, from the Greek meaning all (Pan) Greeks (Hellenic); Panhellenic is organized on every campus that has (inter)national sororities.

Neo or Neophyte

A new member of a (NPHC) National Pan-Hellenic Council organization.

New Member

A member of an IFC or NPC fraternity or sorority who has not been initiated. Some organizations refer to new members as associates.

New Member Program

The process, endorsed or prescribed by the fraternity or sorority headquarters, top teach the ideals, and values of fraternityand sorority life. The length of time for each chapter’s new member program may vary.

An NPHC phrase meaning that a chapter is currently chartered and able to recruit new members on campus.

Panhellenic Council (Panhel/NPC)

The central governing body of sororities.

Pin

Sometimes referred to as pledge/new member pin, this is worn by those leading up to initiation.

Philanthropy

A charitable project sponsored by many organizations.

Pledge/associate/new member

A member of a fraternity or a sorority who has not participated in the initiation ceremony.

Pledgeship/new member period

A time during which new members learn about the fraternity or sorority, its members and their activities.

Potential new member (PNM)

A woman who participates in either formal or open recruitment.

Quota

The total number of potential members each sorority chapter can invite to join during formal recruitment.

Recommendation

A letter signed by an alumna/alumnus recommending a student for membership in a Greek chapter.

Recruitment

A social experience in which mutual choice and selection occurs to determine fraternity and sorority memberships.

Rho Lambda

Serenade

Traditionally, a singing performance by one Greek chapter to another.

Sister

Term used when referring to another member of the sorority.

Sigma Rho Gamma (Recruitment Guide)

A NPC woman who agrees to disaffiliate herself from her sorority to assist Potential New Members navigate the Formal Membership Recruitment Process. These women are charged with providing impartial assistance to PNMs in making choices about selecting membership in NPC organizations.

Soror

Term used when referring to another member of the sorority in NPHC organizations.

Step Show

A show often performed by National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations. Also called Stepping.

Unaffiliated

A term used to describe a student/person that is not a member of a Greek organization.